Education/Awards

EDUCATION

PhD: PARTNERSHIPS IN CREATIVE ARTS PARTICIPATION, School of Art, Design and the Built Environment, Research Graduate Institute, University of Ulster, Belfast. Doctorate title: 'Towards a twentieth century participatory arts archive of Northern Ireland'. Volume One is a chronological archive database spanning 100 years of the field of participatory arts; an active member of the informal education movement of community development in N. Ireland, ROI and the UK. Emphasis is on multi arts praxis with 1,442 organisations named; when they started, their focus/ disciplines, location and county with reference source named. Volume Two is a historical narrative of "other" multi-arts praxis, recreating the memory of over a century of innovative education methodology and socio-cultural programme provisions from statutory, community, voluntary sectors to disenfranchised demographics. Long term field evaluation was primarily qualitative. It focused on community-of-interests achieving social gains, extending perceived ‘heritage of identity’ using literary arts, dance, drama, visual arts, music and song/voice.

M.A: CULTURAL HERITAGES / MUSEUM STUDIES, Academyof Irish Cultural Heritages, Ulster University, Belfast. Major: Cultural perspectives in cultural heritage identity.Minor: Museum theory /Practice Thesis: Arts participant’s gains. 2 years p/t.

M.F.A: SCULPTURE, Maryland Institute, College of Art and Design, Baltimore, USA. Major: Sculpture theory, arts education and studio practice. Minor: Fine arts practice /Aesthetics. MA Thesis: ‘Contemporary Trends in World Ceramics’.2 yrs fulltime

B.A. Hons.: GENERAL FINE ART, University of Ulster, Belfast Campus, Northern Ireland, UK. BA Hons Dissertation:‘Jarlshof: The multi period archaeological site in Shetlands’. Major: Fine Art theory and practice. Minor: Archaeological themed ceramics. 4yrs full time.

1st Class Apprenticeship, Non Ferrous Metal Casting, Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture and Fine Arts Foundry, Princeton/ Mercerville, New Jersey, USA. Learnt Cire Perdue, Bronze Metal and Wax Castings. 2 years full time.

AWARDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, RESIDENCIES, HONORARIA, AFFILIATIONS

Arts Council of Northern Ireland, CIRP Scheme Grant, 2021. Mixed Media Project. 
Arts Council of Northern Ireland, IERP/ SIAP Grant, 2021.Mixed media sculpture, "Spring Tidal waves" Mixed media arts project.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland, IERP/ SIAP Grant, 2020, Sculpture/ Mixed media Project; "Dawn over Strangford Lough Islands".
Gratis Arts Residency on site at Glastonbury Festival/ the Green Fields (Green Crafts Village Artist). Public dry felt demonstrations.
St. George's Market/ Belfast City Council/ National Federation Market Traders Development Committee, Elected Board Member.
Castle Ward Estate, National Trust. Clock Tower/ "Winterfell Castle" (GOT) Ground Floor Residency, Near Downpatrick, N. Ireland.
DEL/ UU Full PhD Scholarship. Participatory arts praxis, Ulster University, Belfast Campus.3 years full costs for doctorate research.
CAF Research Committee, Elected member by Community Arts Forum Committee, Belfast, Northern Ireland. CAF Closed in 2011.
Ards Council Honorarium/Ards Business Centre, Newtownards,County Down, N. Ireland. Stipend for development of arts business.
P.A.C.T. 2 Grants:Cultural Tolerance/ Integrated Education/ Peace II, Bangor, N. Ireland.Grants for multi-cultural arts programme.
Millennium Fellowship, ACNI & National Lottery, Belfast, N. Ireland. 2 years.Fellowship for N.I. participatory arts projects failitated
‘Year of the Artist’ Honorarium ACNI/ NLF, Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Stipend paind for 'Year of the Artist' with 83 NI youths.
Belfast City Council Award,Tyrone Gutherie Centre Residency, Nr Newbiss Monaghan, Republic of Ireland. Sculpture arts residency.
School 33 Art Center, Arts Residency, Baltimore City Dept., MD, USA, 2 yrs.Arts residency/Baltimore City Dept of Arts and Culture.
Yashihiko Hashimoto/Assistant Residency/'Fudo Myoho Oh', Baltimore, MD, USA. Wood carving apprenticeship on a 33 foot statue.
‘Rec. Pier’ Arts Residency, Ceramics and sculpture,2 years. Arts residency/ Baltimore City Dept. of Recreation and Parks, MD,USA.
Alumni member of University of Ulster,Belfast,N.Ireland. Maryland Institute, Baltimore, MD, & Johnson Atelier, Princeton, NJ, USA.
Johnson Atelier Apprentice Scholarship,Mercerville/Princeton,USA, 2 years. Scholarship covering fees of apprenticeship programme
Johnson Atelier Apprenticeship Grant for Bronze casting project, N.J.USA. Grant to cast 2 bronze sculptures/covered costs involved
‘Artists in Education’ Grant/MD State, Roland Pk Jr High Sch. Baltimore, USA. State prog. to give art students teaching experience.
Maryland Institute: Ceramic Graduate Scholarship, Baltimore, MD,USA.2 yrs.MICA full scholarship, covered all MA grad school fees
Maryland Institute, Phillips Fellowship, Baltimore, MD, USA, 2 years. MICA full General fees grant, covered all of MICA grad. costs.
BELB Undergraduate Scholarship, 4 years(fees/ materials) Belfast, N. Ireland. Belfast and Education Library Board fees /materials.
Share by: